Posted on

Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2008 Update 1

Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2008 Update 1 unifies the tools and processes required for desktop and server deployment into a common deployment console and collection of guidance. The fourth generation deployment accelerator adds integration with recently released Microsoft deployment technologies to create a single path for image creation and automated installation. MDT’s tools and end-to-end guidance reduce deployment time, standardize desktop and server images, limit service disruptions, reduce post-deployment help desk costs, and improve security and ongoing configuration management.

What’s New in MDT 2008 Update 1?
MDT 2008 Update 1 includes new capability for OEM preload scenarios, a revised System Center Operations Manager Management Pack, bug fixes, and revised documentation. This updated version provides guidance in the .chm help file format only. If you need the guidance in .doc file format, you can download it here.
MDT 2008 Update 1 enables deployment of the following Microsoft products:

  • Windows Vista Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate (32 and 64 bit) RTM and SP1
  • Office Professional, Professional Plus, Enterprise, and Ultimate 2007
  • Windows Server 2008
  • Windows Server 2003 R2 (32 and 64 bit)
  • Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2 and Service Pack 3 (32 and 64 bit) or Windows XP Tablet PC Edition

Download:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=3bd8561f-77ac-4400-a0c1-fe871c461a89&displaylang=en&tm

Posted on

Ad Criminal: c|net

I thought c|net was beyond having to have bad ads…but, today I found they’ve employed the “click here first” advertisement method.

image

And, they don’t make it real obvious.  Shoved at the very top center is the following links in something like 8pt font…

 

image

If you click the “About This Ad” link, it tells you this:

This full-screen announcement is an introductory message from one of our premier marketing partners. It will appear no more than once per day. To go directly to CNET, click on the 'Continue to CNET link. For questions, e-mail advertisingfeedback@cnet.com.

BTW: It looks like you can view the above statement anytime by jumping out to this link:

http://www.cnet.com/html/Ads/common/allaccess/about_cnet.html

At least (unlike other sites that employ this method), they are up-front about it.

Posted on

Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 SP1 International Client Packs (ICP1) Released, ICP2 still pending…

What’s included in ICP1?

ICP1 contains the following languages:

  • English
  • French
  • German
  • Japanese
  • Spanish

What’s missing?

The following will be contained in ICP2, when released:

  • Chinese (Simplified)
  • Chinese (Traditional)
  • Czech
  • Danish
  • Dutch
  • Finnish
  • Greek
  • Hungarian
  • Italian
  • Korean
  • Norwegian
  • Polish
  • Portuguese
  • Portuguese (Brazil)
  • Russian
  • Swedish
  • Turkish

    •  

    Download ICP1:

    http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=76739d39-50a9-436f-9c3b-32a1aafb9154&displaylang=en&tm

    Posted on

    Sunbelt Software’s VIPRE Enterprise – competitor to Symantec – or cure?

    Could Sunbelt have developed a Symantec-killer?  From first impressions and comments filtering through various communities, we may finally be free of the Symantec curse.

    Download an eval copy and let me know what you think…

    http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/

    BTW: Here’s a couple interesting pieces from the VIPRE FAQ…

    • Does this product scale? Can I support 20,000 users?  The default database for storing information is an Access MDB file (no need to install Access). Alternatively you can specify any MSSQL 2000 server or above including MSDE and SQL Express as the location data is kept, and this easily supports 20,000 users. You may need to spread this over several servers to balance the load though. Polling can be configured as can the location where the definitions are pulled from. We have one customer running 14,000 users on one server with ease.
    • Can I use SMS or ConfigMgr to deploy the client?  The agent can be created as both an MSI file and executable, you can also use SMS, login scripts, or even a webpage to download the agent to any workstation.

    So, how does VIPRE compare to the other AV products?

    Check it out…  http://www.vipreenterprise.com/Why-VIPRE-Enterprise/VIPRE-Stats.htm